Outwell woman pays tribute to Staffordshire Bull Terriers after death of beloved service dog

After years of precious help, a woman has waved goodbye to her beloved service dog - and paid tribute to others like him.

Jean Bond, 72, who lives in Outwell, has owned a number of rescue Staffordshire Bull Terriers over the years. Her most recent, Harvey, passed away a few weeks ago.

Harvey had been found in a cardboard box and was on the verge of being put down when Jean met him, but she vowed to nurse him back to health - and the pair soon struck up a special bond.

She kept and trained him, and before long Harvey was helping Jean with a number of activities she struggles to carry out herself.

“He used to put washing in the machine for me, get my tablets and put me to bed,” she said. “But he’d only do one lot of washing a day, because if there was any more to do like his blanket, he’d bring the washing basket and put it under the coffee table, then he’d go to sleep.”

Jean has owned a number of Staffies before, all of which have been rescue dogs.

One arrived with broken ribs, a pair had been thrown from a three-storey building and a car on a motorway, and another was dumped on her doorstep one Christmas Eve.

However, she highlighted the importance service dogs have in their owners’ lives - and was delighted when Amical Veterinary Centre on March’s High Street lit a candle to pay tribute to Harvey.

She plans to be buried with his ashes when she passes away herself, along with her previous pets.

“Any animal could come in the house. He didn’t care, he was so gentle after he was treated badly,” Jean added.

“He never went for any dog, cat, chicken, anything. I was really lucky.

“I loved him. I love Staffies anyway - I love most dogs. My dad said never shout at them, never smack them.

"Kiss them and cuddle them every morning, give them a massage, love them a lot and you won’t get a better dog - and it’s true.”